406 - Sinead O'Connor - i do not want what i have not got

[csberry]

I gotta get two things off my chest first. I've loved Sinead's debut album, The Lion and the Cobra, since it came out and wasn't as happy with I do not want what I haven't got. Secondly, I think the years of Sarah McLachlan, Paula Cole, and other female artists during the latter half of the 90's kind of mellowed out how one can feel about this album's confessional tone and delivery. The songs don't seem as raw now as they did back then. I think "The Last Day of Our Acquaintance" is the song that endures the most as far as embodying the emotional palate that Sinead used that other female artists were not using at the time.

I don't think the sampling of James Brown's "Funky Drummer" on "I'm Stretched on Your Grave" comes across as fresh and interesting as it did in 1990. It seems a bit cliched and cheesy to me now.

Nonetheless, I do find this album a great listen. There is a nice variety in the songs and I only found "Black Boys on Mopeds" as a bit heavy-handed.

Songs I knew I liked: "The Emperor's New Clothes," "Nothing Compares 2 U," "Jump in the River," and "The Last Day of Our Acquaintance"

Songs I didn't know but now like: I've owned this album and didn't really find any surprises during my listen today.

Songs I can go the rest of my life without hearing again: "Black Boys on Mopeds" and the title track